Should I buy a 2004 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited with 140k miles?

If you really want to get good advice from the folks here, entertain us by posting pics of the frame, and let us know what states the Jeep has been in most of it's life. I'm with the others, if the body has that much rust, the frame is very likely not as pristine as you think it is. Don't take his word for it, he may not know. Tell him 5k seems like a great deal if the frame is in good shape. But, 5k is also a lot of $ to spend if the frame happens to be in bad shape. Put a shop light underneath, crawl under and get some pics of the front, side and rear sections of the frame, especially around where the rear shocks mount. If he is against you looking underneath it closely, then I would be suspicious.
 
Here is a side view

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mots said:
If you really want to get good advice from the folks here, entertain us by posting pics of the frame, and let us know what states the Jeep has been in most of it's life. I'm with the others, if the body has that much rust, the frame is very likely not as pristine as you think it is. Don't take his word for it, he may not know. Tell him 5k seems like a great deal if the frame is in good shape. But, 5k is also a lot of $ to spend if the frame happens to be in bad shape. Put a shop light underneath, crawl under and get some pics of the front, side and rear sections of the frame, especially around where the rear shocks mount. If he is against you looking underneath it closely, then I would be suspicious.
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Nope I can come over do what ever I want to it he doesn’t care. It will be my first car and he is giving me a good deal because he doesn’t want to make me pay a lot of a first car and he wants to get rid of it. He has already told me if he sells it to anyone els it will be a lot more money. I have looked under it but I just haven’t taken any pics. Next time I go over I will post a photo of the frame.
 
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I hope you have a good job and a low maintenance girlfriend.
Let us know as soon as you bring her home so we can welcome you to our forum!
 
Tzerambo said:
Ok good because I read a lot of things where that trans would go out at like 100k miles and I plan to keep this Jeep for as long as possible. How long do you think I can get out of that tranny before it will need to be repaired.
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Impossible to say but it should be fine if you have its ATF+4 and filter changed per a reasonable schedule. If you do any kind of towing or offroading that could get the ATF hot install an aux cooler on the output of the OE cooler. I installed a Derale aux cooler with a fan onto my 42RLE.
 
TJ2 said:
Sorry can not do that, err she is a 4 banger.
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O Man that sucks but hey with a manual any engine can be fun to drive. I have drove this Jeep as a 4.0 and if you barly press the throttle is jumps but I have heard that is common on this model. But I have a cousin who has the 4cyl yj and he says even though it’s a 4 cyl it’s still a fun Jeep.
 
Jerry Bransford said:
Impossible to say but it should be fine if you have its ATF+4 and filter changed per a reasonable schedule. If you do any kind of towing or offroading that could get the ATF hot install an aux cooler on the output of the OE cooler. I installed a Derale aux cooler with a fan onto my 42RLE.
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She has almost bald tires in the rear and it is never taken off road and never towed with so there is little to no stress on the tranny.
 
You need to flush the hell out of her fluids:
Engine Oil
Trans. Oil
Gear Oil
T-case Oil
Steering Fluid
Radiator Flush
Brake Fluid Flush
 
TJ2 said:
You need to flush the hell out of her fluids:
Engine Oil
Trans. Oil
Gear Oil
T-case Oil
Steering Fluid
Radiator Flush
Brake Fluid Flush
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Yeah I’m most worried about the tranny because they don’t have the best reputation for being an automatic. But the brakes and radiator have probably been a good while since they have been flushed if I where to guess
 
TJ2 said:
You need to flush the hell out of her fluids:
Engine Oil
Trans. Oil
Gear Oil
T-case Oil
Steering Fluid
Radiator Flush
Brake Fluid Flush
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OK, let's let him get the jeep before we give him a laundry list of things to do...at least he is not under the gun to get as his uncle is holding for his right of first refusal. What makes you think that tranny is such a bad one?
 
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